Mass Dismissal Sparks Outcry from Human Rights Advocates
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights, specifically the branch in Menara, Marrakech, has raised strong condemnation against what it describes as the "arbitrary and collective dismissal" of 46 workers at the Bab Doukkala bus station. This incident coincides with the relocation of operations to the new bus station in the Al-Azizia area. The association views this action as a violation of the right to work, infringing upon the economic and social rights of the affected employees.
In a statement shared with Maghreb Times, the branch highlighted that many of the affected workers had dedicated nearly three decades to serving at the bus station. However, their employment was abruptly terminated without prior notice or dialogue, and they were not provided with legal compensation or the opportunity to continue working at the new station until reaching retirement age. This situation is deemed a breach of labor laws and international agreements aimed at protecting workers' rights.
The statement further elaborated that the project to relocate the bus station had been known for years, and there were opportunities to manage it in a way that would ensure job continuity and protect acquired rights. Unfortunately, the workers were left shocked, as they received only their salaries for the days worked in July and meager compensation for annual leave, with no consideration given to their years of service.
The Menara branch of the association has called for the reinstatement of the dismissed workers at the new bus station or for the provision of all their legal rights if reinstatement is not feasible. They urged the labor inspectorate and relevant authorities to intervene urgently and investigate the circumstances surrounding this issue. Furthermore, they called on the public prosecutor and oversight bodies to investigate what they perceive as mismanagement related to the new bus station project and to hold accountable those responsible under the principle of accountability.
The association emphasized that respecting workers' rights should be an integral part of any developmental project, asserting that true development is not solely about building infrastructure, but also about safeguarding the dignity of workers and ensuring their rights.
As reported by maghrebtimes.ma.
